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Some of you are just noticing this now?? This has been discussed numerous times around here for a good while now.

I actually think that the answer is simple and impossible to address at the same time: increase property access. If kids can't find a place to hunt, then everything else becomes window dressing. And has become the norm in this country, there's an increasing divide between the haves and have-nots

I agree with you but being a land owner and letting a stranger on my land I just can't do that. It's just not safe. I need to get to know the person and get the right feel for them. That's my choice. Once again I'll say new hunters get to shoot what they like then better yourself the next year. Worst thing you can do is dictate to a new hunter what size buck they can shoot on your land. I believe in QDM but let that hunter get there on his or her own.

That's take off the rose colored glasses. How the hell is anyone going to recruit new hunters, in such a hostile hunting state?

Spring this year she shot a 21lbs bird. They decided to have it mounted. Man did it come out nice. DJ's Taxidermist in Avoca did the work. I have had a number of deer mounted by him and never disappointed. The bird is just amazing!

Remember that picture someone shared this is very similar. Check out the healing power of deer! From a FB site.

Seems like more and more items are being put on Amazon's no ship to NY State's shit list. I see the Bug A Salt fly shotgun and Ralphie's Daisy Red Ryder among many things although perfectly legal that can no longer be shipped here. You will shoot your eye out! I had an early version of the Bug A Salt that I kept out on the deck to knock off any bothersome Bees or Flies and it worked pretty good. My grandson liked hunting flies with it so I gave it to him. Thought I would get the new improved model but I see Amazon will not ship so I guess I will have to find one on ebay. Poked around on Amazon and found there are many things now on the list. Al

Totally agree - I can't do that, either. But there are certainly those that can - maybe fewer and fewer as time goes on, but they are still out there. I have a neighbor to the south of one of the properties I hunt that does just that.

I think lack of access to hunting ground is one of the biggest issues for the future of hunting. Several folks here have already taken new hunters out with them, but for that to persist and expand, that new hunter needs to take new hunters as well. Eventually that original landowner’s property would get overcrowded, thus the need for more access. I think some tax incentive for landowners to open up their ground for hunting, like is done in several other states, might be a way to help. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No doubt they notice the camera at times but I would guess the scare comes like you say the scent that the hunters leave messing with the cameras. I use the new ones with pics directly to the phone for the most part so leave little scent and have not noticed any changes in deer behavior for the most part.

One thing we need is for DEC personnel to interface more with schools and have a more visible public presence. Also, we need the DEC to understand that we have a problem and they are part of it. What I am talking about id the closing of the DEC national hunting and fishing day in region 8. That was the most popular interface with potential hunters that we ever had going and then they shut it off. I don't know what their problem was, but it certainly is something that should have been solved rather than just shutting it down. I place a lot of emphasis on the DEC becoming part of the solution because they are the ones that will someday be faced with the problem of no way of controlling future game populations as the hunters continue to phase out of the sport. Also, every fish and game club, archery club, and such need to take a more active part in recruitment and in the politics of hunting, fishing and trapping. I know that most of them do have some kind of recruitment activities, but they have to step up the efforts even more. They all have to push membership drives that focus on youth participation. Annual youth hunts (plural) must become part of their itinerary. These are the organizations that can have some impact on hunter recruitment. There needs to be more emphasis put on opening up private lands to hunting. That sounds good, and I have to admit that I haven't a clue how to attack that one. Perhaps habitat improvement on state lands. I often thought that it might be useful to renting out open fields to local farmers either for free or for a very small rent, so some of the land can be returned to agricultural uses (one of the best animal attractants going). Encourage selective logging on state lands to open up maturing state forests for better forage and undergrowth. Maybe offering tax breaks to those farmers who allow open public hunting might also provide some additional hunting areas. I don't know whether some of these ideas might be impossible to implement, but these ideas or some version of them could help acquaint the public with what hunting is and how it benefits wild critters and the environment in general. Hunting population importance has to become a prime focus of the DEC and outdoor activities clubs and organizations and the dangers of losing hunting as a resource has to be made clear to the public. Just a few thoughts on the subject.

Our daughter’s boyfriend has expressed some interest, maybe grandkids some day. Preparing some tasty meals with the meat is always a good way to generate interest. The overemphasis on big antlers has done more harm than anything else, in my humble opinion. Nobody needs that, but we all got to eat.

Quality time with Family and friends , Meat - Venison - that does not have Growth Hormones or is fed with Chemically Treated Feed !

Happy Birthday.

Happy birthday TT.

Happy Birthday sir!

Happy birthday

Happy Birthday !

Have a good one!

Happy Birthday!

I’m with Land on this one. Awesome place and awesome look now. Can’t beat the natural beauty of wood on camps. Add in the wood heat and boom….Its Camp! Come in after a long cold day, fill the gut and feel that heat and it’s light out. Perfect!!

It just depends on personal taste. Remember that everyone's input is just that. Now I'll give you mine,LOL. I don't like the yellow looking varnish on the natural wood. I like the wood to stand out with no gloss look to it. I would never ever paint that wood, unless you like the look of horizonal painted Wayne's coating. Painting that wood would be a sin. Don't do it! Change the trim appearance.